Surname Chilvers - Meaning and Origin

Chilvers: What does the surname Chilvers mean?

The surname Chilvers is of English origin. It is derived from the Old English character "Ceolfer" and was first found in Norfolk. The name referred to someone who lived near a clay finery, since 'cheleg' was the Old English word for clay. The '-er' and '-ers' suffix was a popular medieval construction, used as a patronymic.

The Chilvers family were fairly common in the region of East Anglia, with parish records of their presence in Norfolk, Suffolk and neighboring counties stretching back to the 16th century, and the earliest recorded instance being that of Richard Chelver in the 1524 Court Rolls of the Borough of Colchester. By the 19th century, the spelling of the surname had diversified, with variants such as Childers, Chilvers, Cheavers and Chilver.

In modern times, Chilvers is a relatively uncommon name, with less than 1,000 people in the UK bearing the surname. It is still to be found in its ancient homeland in East Anglia and records of people bearing the name elsewhere in the British Isles range from Scotland to Ireland. It is also to be found in Australia and more recently in America, where immigrants bearing the name have settled since the 18th century.

Chilvers: Where does the name Chilvers come from?

The last name Chilvers is most commonly associated with England, and is especially prevalent in the East Anglian region. In fact, the name can be traced back to Anglo-Saxon England, where it was used as a surname during the Normans’ rule. The surname is also known in Ireland, where the spelling may be slightly different, such as Chivers or Chillvers.

The last name has been found in records across Essex, Suffolk, and Norfolk, as well as in other parts of England. There are records of it across the United Kingdom, even in Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. Today, it is believed that there are still about four hundred living Chilverses in the United Kingdom.

Outside of the United Kingdom, the last name is still found in Australia, New Zealand, and even the United States. It is not as common in other countries as it is in the UK, but there have been many recent instances of emigration through work and immigration. Recently, there have been reports of Chilverses living in Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, and more.

Though the last name Chilvers is most commonly associated with England, it is clear that the surname has grown internationally thanks to migration and emigration around the world. As more and more people move and spread their families heritage, it is likely that Chilvers will become even more widespread and more common.

Variations of the surname Chilvers

The surname Chilvers has several variants, spellings, and surnames with similar origins. These include Childers, Chilvers, Chylers, Chellers, Chellars, Checklers, Chalkers, and Chelkers.

The earliest variant of the surname Chilvers was Childers and was first found in Lancashire, England in the 13th century. Several families of the same name lived in Lancashire, where they were descended from the ancient country house of Childers. The family was prominent in local affairs and served as county gentry. The Childers family was seated at Wyke in Lancashire during the reign of Henry VIII (1510-1547) but later spread to other parts of the country.

The spelling of the name changed over time, with variants such as Chilvers, Chylers and Chellers. These changes most likely occurred due to illiteracy, as scribes and church officials may have spelled the name as it sounded.

The variants of Chilvers can also be attributed to regional dialects, which will tend to pronounce the name differently. This is why in some regions the name may be spelled with the letter "i", while in others it may be spelled with the letter "y".

In addition to the variants, the same origin of the name Chilvers is also connected to a number of related surnames. These include Checklers, Chalkers and Chelkers. All of these share the same root of Chilvers, and are all derived from the Old English word cilders, meaning sympathizers or friends.

These variants can all trace their history back to the same origin, and the influence of regional dialects throughout the centuries has led to these variations.

Famous people with the name Chilvers

• Tanya Chilvers: British actress.
• Toby Chilvers: English television presenter.
• Jason Chilvers: British film editor.
• Sam Chilvers: English footballer.
• Richard Chilvers: English cricketer.
• Tony Chilvers: English footballer.
• Robert Chilvers: Australian actor.
• David Chilvers: English actor and writer.
• Ben Chilvers: British actor.
• George Chilvers: English cricketer.
• Robert Chilvers: British film and television producer.
• Beatrice Chilvers: British author and illustrator.
• John Chilvers: British actor.
• Mary Chilvers: British actress.
• Charles Chilvers: British actor and director.
• Roy Chilvers: English footballer.
• Dorothy Chilvers: English actress and singer.
• Eric Chilvers: English cricketer.
• Christian Chilvers: Australian film maker and photographer.
• Martin Chilvers: English footballer.

Other surnames

Chilver